The agency's six strategies comprise conducting coordination and data synchronization among ministries and agencies, macro planning and details of mangrove rehabilitation, and spreading education and disseminating information on the mangrove love movement, BRGM Head Hartono noted in a statement here on Thursday.
"Mangrove Care Villages will also be formed as a spearhead of sustainable mangrove rehabilitation," Hartono remarked at the Thought Leadership Forum held by the Nusantara Nature Conservation Foundation.
Synergized rehabilitation of mangroves will be conducted by involving relevant ministries and NGOs. The agency will also develop an instrument for a measurable and continuous mangrove rehabilitation program.
"Peat restoration and mangrove rehabilitation at several places are also interrelated. This is since the nature of this ecosystem is connected. Hence, we will maximize our efforts to conduct synergistic activities in the two ecosystems," Hartono remarked.
The agency has also forged collaborations and partnerships with local governments, the private sector, NGOs, universities, and community organizations.
BRGM, earlier known as BRG during the 2016-2020 period, has facilitated peat restoration through various activities. Thousands of peat wetting infrastructure, such as canal blocking, drilling wells, and canal filling, were built to support the wetting of 835,288 hectares of peatland areas located in conservation areas, community lands, and forest areas.
Furthermore, the agency will offer technical assistance to 186 plantation companies, with an area of 538,439 hectares, or 96.89 percent of the target, for restoration.
Peat restoration activities conducted by BRGM are focused on improving the livelihoods of the community in peat villages. Assistance to 640 Independent Peat Care Villages is a strategy towards realizing this objective.
"Peat restoration activities are integrated with rural development and the program pays great attention to the welfare of the community. We will continue this at the BRGM, and this becomes a special task given to our institution,” Hartono stated.
The community's economic revitalization activities in the earlier five years have concurrently saved peatlands. Some 2,295 community groups (Pokmas) comprising some 118,576 people have been involved in labor-intensive activities in peatland areas.
The BRGM currently works in 13 provinces: North Sumatra, Riau, Riau Islands, Jambi, South Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, Papua, and West Papua. Related news: Bappenas drafts roadmap for wetland management
Related news: Fisheries Ministry builds mangrove nursery in Pasuruan, E Java
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Subagyo, Fardah
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
